LNG tanker Patris scheduled to arrive at US Cove Point terminal in April: Platts cFlow

As Dominion Energy prepares for commercial service to start at its CovePoint LNG export terminal, a new tanker was listed Monday as headed tothe Maryland facility, after a previous one changed its destination, datacompiled by S&P Global Platts vessel tracking software cFlow shows.

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The BP chartered Patris, which entered service in February and wasordered by a partnership between K Line Shipping and Greek vessel ownerChandris, is currently in the Arabian Sea and scheduled to arrive at CovePoint on April 9, the data shows. It has a draught history that indicatesthe tanker is partly laden, which means it would be in a position topickup LNG.

Cove Point has both import and export capabilities. A Dominion spokesmandid not respond to a request for comment, and previously the company hasrefused to provide any updates to the timing of commercial service. BPofficials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on thePatris' plans.

The company had previously said that commercial service at Cove Point,under contracts with Gail India and a joint venture involving Japan 'sSumitomo and Tokyo Gas, would begin in early March. There has beenreduced feedgas activity at the facility since March 2 when Dominionshipped its first commissioning cargo, joining Cheniere Energy as theonly US exporters of LNG produced from shale gas.

Cove Point has not reported any feedgas volumes delivered to the plantsince Dominion received regulatory approval on March 5 to begincommercial service for exports, data from S&P Global Platts Analyticsshows.

Japan, the world's biggest LNG importer, is entering its seasonal demandlull and it is expected to bring two large-scale nuclear reactors onlinein the coming months for Kansai Electric Power, which is a major LNGconsumer and the expected destination of some of the LNG to be shippedfrom Cove Point under the contact with the joint venture involving TokyoGas.

Gail commenced its long-term commercial agreement with Cheniere's SabinePass LNG export terminal in Louisiana last week. Platts Analyticsestimates that Gail will have around seven cargoes a month to market,import or sell via shipments from Sabine Pass and Cove Point as of May. -- Harry Weber and Jack Winters, Harry.Weber@spglobal.com